Discovering a hidden treasure deep within an ancient Egyptian tomb has not only unraveled a long-standing mystery but also ignited excitement among archaeologists worldwide. This remarkable find demonstrates that even in regions explored for centuries, new secrets are still waiting to be revealed — and sometimes, they challenge everything we thought we knew about Egypt’s history.
But here’s where it gets controversial: this discovery of 225 funerary figurines inside a royal tomb in Tanis, located in Egypt’s Nile Delta, is exceptionally rare. According to French archaeologist Frederic Payraudeau, such a full set of figurines being found sealed within a tomb has not been documented in this necropolis since 1946. Even more astonishing is that similar finds aren’t common elsewhere in Egypt’s famous Valley of the Kings — apart from the legendary discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb back in 1922 — primarily because most royal tombs have been looted over the centuries, stripping them of their secrets.
The discovery was made on October 9 by Payraudeau’s team, who had been excavating a slender, narrow tomb marked by an imposing but anonymous sarcophagus. The team had already uncovered the other three sides of this tomb when, unexpectedly, they stumbled upon a cluster of figurines. When just a few were revealed, their significance was immediately clear. Payraudeau recounts rushing to share the news with colleagues and officials, knowing that the find was extraordinary. Recognizing the importance of their discovery, they decided to work through the night, lighting up the chamber to carefully extract all 225 green, ushabti-type funerary figurines over the course of ten days.
These small figurines were precisely positioned — arranged in a star pattern along the sides of a trapezoidal pit and laid out in horizontal order at the bottom. Ushabti figurines were traditionally made to serve as servants for the deceased in the afterlife, offering protection and assistance. What sets this collection apart is that more than half of the figurines are female, a rarity that raises questions about the social and religious practices of that era.
Located in the strategic and historically rich Nile Delta, Tanis was established around 1050 BC as the capital during Egypt’s 21st Dynasty. During this time, the famous Valley of the Kings had fallen out of use after suffering looting under various pharaohs, including Ramses. As a result, the royal burial sites shifted to Tanis, which became a central hub of royal activity.
More intriguing still is what this discovery reveals about the identity of the buried individual. The figurines bear the royal emblem of Pharaoh Shoshenq III, who ruled from around 830 to 791 BC. This identification is surprising because the largest tomb on the site bears his name, yet it’s not the same as the one where these figurines were found. Payraudeau explains that getting buried in a tomb was a strategic gamble for pharaohs, as they could never be certain their chosen resting place would be their final burial — especially if successors or looters moved their remains later. The fact that these figurines are associated with Shoshenq III raises questions about the pharaoh’s burial arrangements, his turbulent reign marked by civil war and power struggles, and whether the tomb was perhaps abandoned or robbed.
The size of the tomb, measuring roughly 3.5 by 1.5 meters, makes the idea of relocating such a large granite sarcophagus unlikely. Experts believe further analysis of the figurines and the chamber’s layout may shed light on burial practices of that time and might even reveal whether the king’s body was moved elsewhere.
Once studied, these figurines are expected to be displayed in an Egyptian museum, enriching our understanding of ancient Egyptian funerary customs. Egyptian authorities have called this discovery 'a decisive step' in solving archaeological mysteries, emphasizing that the tomb and the figurines still hold many secrets. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the ongoing investigations aim to understand whether the king was originally buried in the tomb of Osarkon II or if his remains were relocated in later times — questions that remain unanswered.
This mind-blowing discovery comes shortly after the opening of Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum, a stunning $1 billion institution that is one of the world’s largest museums dedicated solely to Egyptian history. Its immense collection spans seven millennia, from prehistoric times to the late Roman period, underscoring just how deep and still largely unexplored Egypt’s archaeological treasure trove remains. Will future finds in Tanis and beyond further challenge our understanding? And what other secrets lie buried beneath Egypt’s sands, waiting to be uncovered? Share your thoughts and opinions — do you believe these discoveries will reshape our history, or are they just the tip of the iceberg? The debate is open.
